Phil Jagielka scored the only goal of the match as Everton recorded a 1-0 win over Arsenal in Sunday afternoon's Premier League clash at Goodison Park.
The victory is Everton's third in a row in the league, while Arsenal's poor away form has continued.
The Gunners remain fourth in the Premier League table, but are vulnerable to fifth-placed Chelsea and sixth-placed Manchester United as the battle for the Champions League positions intensifies.
Read how it all unfolded in Sports Mole's minute-by-minute live commentary of the action below.
Good afternoon and welcome to Sports Mole's live commentary of the Premier League clash between Everton and Arsenal from Goodison Park. The Toffees have won their last two in the league to move into 10th position and would join ninth-placed Watford on 46 points with a win over the Gunners this afternoon. Unai Emery's side, meanwhile, are currently fourth in the table, but would return to third ahead of Tottenham Hotspur if they can overcome Everton in Merseyside. Stay tuned for live coverage!
TEAMS!
EVERTON: Pickford; Coleman, Keane, Zouma, Digne; Gueye, Gomes; Bernard, Sigurdsson, Richarlison; Calvert-Lewin
ARSENAL: Leno, Mustafi, Sokratis, Monreal; Maitland-Niles, Elneny, Guendouzi, Kolasinac; Ozil, Lacazette, Mkhitaryan
No real surprises in the Everton XI this afternoon as Richarlison again plays on the right, leaving Theo Walcott on the bench aganst his former club. Dominic Calvert-Lewin has been in good form and again leads the line, while Kurt Zouma and Michael Keane are the two centre-backs.
As for Arsenal, there is no Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang or Aaron Ramsey in the XI this afternoon, with the pair left on the bench. Alexandre Lacazette will lead the line with support from Mesut Ozil and Henrikh Mkhitaryan, while Granit Xhaka's groin injury sees Mohamed Elneny handed a midfield role. Kickoff at Goodison Park is now just moments away here!
KICKOFF: Everton kick things off at Goodison Park...
... it must be said that there is a wonderful atmosphere inside the stadium and the home supporters will be looking for a strong performance from their team. Everton make some early ground down the left through Digne, but eventually Arsenal manage to clear down the field.
CHANCE! Early chance for Arsenal as Lacazette delivers a dangerous low cross into the Everton box which Ozil picks up at the far post, but eventually the home side clear their lines.
Arsenal are the team on the front foot in the early exchanges, but Everton have also shown that they are prepared to commit players forward. Promising first five minutes here.
Arsenal again flood forward with Mkhitaryan joining Ozil inside, but the move ends with Guendouzi fouling Digne. The Everton fans want a yellow, but it is just a free kick.
You do get the feeling that the first goal - if there indeed is one - could be vital. Lacazette is just limping for Arsenal following an earlier challenge, but seems fine to continue here.
Eleven minutes on the clock and we are still goalless at Goodison Park. There have been some tasty early challenges, though, and it has just been confirmed that Guendouzi actually did pick up a yellow for that tackle on Digne. The match continues to be played at a high tempo.
GOAL! EVERTON 1-0 ARSENAL (JAGIELKA)
Everton take the lead in the 10th minute as Arsenal do not deal with a corner inside their box and Jagielka is on hand to fire home from close range! Not sure about the defending!
Jagielka was a late introduction into the XI after Keane was taken ill and the centre-back has sent his team ahead. It is now up to Arsenal, who started well, to bounce back here.
Another heavy challenge comes in from Mustafi, but the referee is happy to let it go. I can see a few more yellow cards arriving here, particularly with the onus now on Arsenal to attack.
You do get the feeling that a second for Everton at this stage of the match would be absolutely huge. Arsenal are so good at home, but have problems on the road. Sigurdsson is causing the away side's back three some problems at Goodison, there is no doubt about that.
SHOT! Gomes strikes one from distance, but it was always moving wide of the post.
Arsenal threaten with a corner after smart defending from Zouma, but the home side manage to clear their lines and eventually win a free kick. Everton lead with 19 minutes on the clock.
Everton almost break into the Arsenal box once again, but Gomes is penalised for a late challenge on Sokratis and it was a free kick on second viewing. It is a very open game here.
Guendouzi looks to release Lacazette in behind, but Pickford is on hand to collect. There is not really enough space behind the Everton back four, which is causing the away side an issue.
Not an awful lot to report in terms of chances in the last few moments and Arsenal are struggling to get going in the final third of the field. Everton are quite comfortable here.
YELLOW CARD! Sokratis (Arsenal) is booked for a foul on Calvert-Lewin.
Not many expected Calvert-Lewin to be Everton's main striker at this stage of the season, but he is playing really well at the moment and has held the ball up very well this afternoon. Arsenal are trying to find space out wide, but the home side continue to defend well.
SHOT! Gueye strikes wide of the post after another period of Everton pressure.
Little over 15 minutes of the first period remaining and Jagielka's goal remains the difference. The first 30 minutes have absolutely flown past and it has been an end-to-end contest.
Not an awful lot happening at the moment other than a few late challenges. It has been an open game, but not too many clear opportunities, which Everton will not mind at this stage.
Everton are keeping the ball well at the moment as they continue to work space in forward areas. Gomes, who Everton would have to sign, has been brilliant in the middle here.
Aubameyang is on the bench for Arsenal and it would not be a surprise to see the forward introduced at the break. Lacazette has not had too many chances in the final third.
Pass, pass, pass from Everton as the home side continued to move the ball.
Little over five minutes of the first period remaining and Jagielka's goal is still the difference between the two teams. Arsenal started quite well, but have not offered too much since they fell behind. Mkhitaryan and Ozil have seen little of the ball in dangerous positions.
Pickford gathers a cross from Maitland-Niles as another Arsenal attack comes to an end. It has all been very similar for the away side in the final third and it really would not be a surprise to see one or two changes at the interval. Silva looks very content on the touchline.
Arsenal have been excellent at home in the Premier League this season, but their away form is a real concern and it might well cost them the chance to finish in the top four. The first 44 minutes of this match have flown past and the home supporters will be delighted here.
We are into the first of two additional minutes at the end of the first period.
EVERTON 1-0 ARSENAL
So there we have it. The referee brings the first period to a close with Everton leading 1-0 courtesy of a close-range finish from Jagielka. Arsenal have had their moments in the final third, but have been unable to really harm Pickford between the home side's sticks.
So there we have it. The referee brings the first period to a close with Everton leading 1-0 courtesy of a close-range finish from Jagielka. Arsenal have had their moments in the final third, but have been unable to really harm Pickford between the home side's sticks.
STATISTICS! Arsenal have just shaded the possession with 52%, but have only managed one attempt and it was off target. Everton, meanwhile, hit the target with two of their six attempts. Two yellow cards to report with Guendouzi and Sokratis picking up bookings for Arsenal.
BENCH WATCH! Arsenal have a strong bench this afternoon, with Aubameyang, Iwobi, Ramsey and Denis Suarez available for Emery. Everton, meanwhile, have options in the shape of Davies, Lookman, Tosun and Walcott. Plenty of talent on both benches at Goodison Park.
KICKOFF: Arsenal resume the action here...
... ARSENAL SUBS! Ramsey and Aubameyang replace Elneny and Kolasinac.
Big changes for Arsenal at the interval, and it was not a surprise to see Ramsey and Aubameyang both enter the field. No changes for Everton at the break.
CHANCE! Huge chance for Arsenal as the ball falls for Ramsey inside the Everton box, but the Wales international somehow misses the target. Huge chance for the Gunners!
You would have to expect Arsenal to score at some point, meaning that Everton will need to score again if they wish to collect all three points. It has been an open start to the second period.
The ball again falls for Arsenal inside the Everton box, but Ramsey's strike is blocked. There is no question that the two changes at the interval have made a difference for the away side.
SHOT! Another half-chance for Ramsey, but he swings his effort wide of the post.
Everton have the ball inside the Arsenal box once again, but Sigurdsson cannot sort out his feet in time to get a shot off and Arsenal manage to clear their lines once again. Still 1-0.
Little over 30 minutes of the second period remaining and Everton still lead courtesy of Jagielka's first-half finish. We are all set for a fascinating conclusion to this match.
A lot of possession for Arsenal at the moment, but not too much else.
SAVE! Leno keeps out a close-range strike from Bernard!
Everton threaten from two corners in quick succession, but Arsenal manage to survive without conceding a second goal. The clock continues to tick on with the home side ahead.
Still no movement on the Everton bench, but Walcott is an option for the home side against his former club. The Toffees have just had a couple of half-chances, but Leno punched clear a cross from Richarlison before Gomes missed the target. Little over 25 minutes to play here.
Monreal delivers a dangerous cross into the Everton box, but it misses everyone, much to Pickford's relief as the goalkeeper got nowhere near it. Silva is barking out instructions here.
Calvert-Lewin has the chance to release Bernard in a dangerous position, but does not take it and Arsenal can clear their lines once again. Little over 20 minutes to play here.
SHOT! Sigurdsson sees his strike deflected wide of the Arsenal post!
CLOSE! Mkhitaryan just misses the far post with a curling effort!
SAVE! Leno keeps out a close-range attempt from Sigurdsson!
CHANCE! Sigurdsson has a strike blocked into Richarlison and the Brazilian fires wide!
ARSENAL SUB! Iwobi replaces Ozil for the away side.
You do get the feeling that there is going to be another goal in this match. Everton will be kicking themselves if they concede because they have had so many chances here.
Everton are about to make a change as Walcott receives his final instructions.
EVERTON SUB! Walcott replaces Richarlison for the home side.
Little under 10 minutes of the second period remaining and Jagielka's goal is still the difference between the two teams. Arsenal currently have possession in Everton's half here.
Little under 10 minutes of the second period remaining and Jagielka's goal is still the difference between the two teams. Arsenal currently have possession in Everton's half here.
SAVE! Leno does well to keep out a strike from Bernard!
YELLOW CARD! Mustafi (Arsenal) is booked for a foul on Calvert-Lewin.
Iwobi attempts to drive past Coleman, but the defender does really well and the Goodison Park crowd cheers as if a second goal has been scored. Little over five minutes remaining here.
SHOT! Gomes strikes wide of the Arsenal post from distance.
Walcott delivers a terrific cross towards Sigurdsson, but Maitland-Niles manages to clear behind for a corner. Everton are having so many chances on the break here.
YELLOW CARD! Monreal (Arsenal) is booked for dissent.
SHOT! Walcott has a strike deflected behind and Everton have another corner kick.
Everton threaten from two corners in quick succession, but Arsenal survive without conceding. Zouma got up twice for the home side and Arsenal could not deal with him.
EVERTON SUB! Bernard is replaced by Lookman for the home side.
Nothing much from Arsenal here as Everton continue to dominate the match.
EVERTON SUB! Sigurdsson is replaced by Davies for the home side.
We are into the first of five additional minutes of added time!
Everton are still first to every challenge here and Arsenal are not offering too much at all.
Everton win another corner as Mustafi challenges Lookman out wide.
Time is running out for Arsenal as Everton clear once again through Zouma.
FULL TIME: EVERTON 1-0 ARSENAL
So there we have it. The referee brings the second period to a close with Everton running out 1-0 winners over Arsenal courtesy of a first-half Jagielka effort. Thanks for joining Sports Mole for our live coverage once again. Until next time!
Written by
Matt Law
Matt Law
